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The Culture Guide: 5 Things You Should Not Do When Visiting South Africa

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No matter where your travels take you in the world, the last thing you want to do is act like a tourist. And that goes double when traveling to South Africa. Tourists often end up an easy target for opportunistic criminals – and run the risk of getting into trouble otherwise. Thankfully, you can avoid all that by simply using these tips on five things you should never do while visiting South Africa.  

Don’t Be Impatient 

Slow and steady is the way to go while visiting South Africa. The big city hustle just doesn’t fly here. Instead, you want to bring all the patience in the world as you travel the roadways and stop in at venues along the way.

Traffic moves at a slow pace almost everywhere, so give yourself extra time to get from place to place. Then, add even more time to your stops, especially while eating out at popular restaurants. Service comes just as slowly as everything else.

Never Flash Your Valuables

Jewelry, electronics, and other valuables serve as a homing beacon for opportunistic individuals looking for a quick score. You’re especially at risk if you end up visiting a relatively bad neighborhood with your valuables out in the open.

Overall, it’s best to just leave all your jewelry at home. Yes, that includes your wedding ring. And while you should carry a cellphone, try to keep it out of sight, out of mind, as you enjoy exploring the cityscape.

Avoid Visiting Dark Alleyways

As you travel across South Africa, remember the risk of falling victim to theft, assault, and worse increases under the cloak of darkness. If you can end your adventures before nightfall, that’s often best.

You can enjoy all your accommodations have to offer after that, and then hit the road bright and early the next morning. If not, then at least stick to well-lit passageways along the city streets. Dark alleyways are a no go always.

Don’t Skip the Sun Protection

The sun shines brightly across South Africa more often than not. While that’s part of the allure, the harsh sun rays can also put a damper on your trip, especially if you get sunburnt.

To stay protected, be sure to put on sunblock at the start of the day. Then, reapply it every two hours after that. Consider wearing UV-protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses as well.

Never Get Too Close to Wildlife

At least one safari tour is a must while visiting South Africa. You’ll get to see elephants, rhinoceros, buffalo, giraffes, wild dogs, warthogs, kudu, and so much more. Cheetahs, lions, and other big cats are common sights as well.

Although it’s tempting to try to get a closeup, even the most docile wild animals can prove deadly. So, heed your guide’s warnings and stay in the vehicle at all times. Never attempt to get too close to the animals or you might end up in serious danger before you know it.

If you’re ever unsure how to be while visiting a new place, like South Africa, pop into a local eatery and ask the owners for advice. They know just how tourists can avoid trouble and can provide key insights into all the best sights in the region.

How To Choose Your Roofing Material

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If your home’s roof is looking worse for wear, it may be time to explore replacement options. Replacing a worn-out roof can protect your home from costly water damage caused by leaks down the road. Likewise, a brand new roof can add some resale value to your home and possibly even save you money on your home insurance.

Of course, when it comes to replacing your roof, you have many material options to choose from. From “traditional” asphalt shingles to metal roofing and everything between, how can you know which is right for your home? By exploring some common roofing materials, along with their pros and cons, you can make an informed decision.

Asphalt Shingle

This is the most common material used on residential roofs—and there’s a good chance this is the material you have on your roof right now. Asphalt shingles are actually made of fiberglass, but they’re covered with an asphalt surface that protects your home from water, wind, and other elements. 

Typically, asphalt shingle roofs will last for about 20 years before needing to be replaced. This material is also among the most cost-effective and easiest to install, so it’s a popular choice among homeowners.

Wooden Shingle

A less common option (yet still one to consider) is that of wooden shingles. Up until asphalt shingles became “the norm,” wooden shingles were the primary choice. Not only are they easy to work with, but they can also give your home a very warm and inviting look that cannot be achieved with asphalt shingles. Wooden shingles are typically made of cedar, pine, or redwood—and shingles can be stained to achieve nearly any look or finish.

These shingles have about the same lifespan as asphalt, but they do require a little more care and maintenance. Likewise, building codes in some areas may prohibit them as a roofing material, so you’ll want to research your local coding restrictions before you move forward. 

Metal Roofing

Another roofing material that’s becoming increasingly popular for residential use is that of metal roofing. This roofing material is known for its extreme durability, even when faced with extreme weather conditions. In fact, it is not unheard of for a metal roof to last for several decades before needing any extensive repair or replacement.

Most metal roofing is made from aluminum, copper, or steel. It is available in the form of shingles or in larger sheets that can be welded together during installation. Because of its durability and more complicated installation, metal roofing does tend to be the most expensive option. 

What’s Right for You?

Ultimately, the roofing type that’s right for your home will depend on many factors. Usually, it’s easiest and most affordable to replace your roof with the same material as the existing roof. However, many homeowners are choosing to “upgrade” to metal roofs. It all boils down to your budget, your aesthetic preferences, and your local building codes or HOA requirements. 

No matter what type of roof you install, hiring a reputable and experienced roofing company is a must. This way, you can ensure that the roof is installed properly and that it will last for years to come.

Is An Electric Car Right For You? 4 Important Questions To Ask

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Electric cars and trucks are becoming more common on our roads every day. This cutting-edge technology promises to dramatically reduce vehicle emissions – not to mention eliminate your gas bill. But it doesn’t come without potential downsides for some drivers. So how do you know whether an electric car is right for you? Read on as we outline four questions you’ll need to consider before heading to the dealership.

1. How Far Are Your Usual Drives?

This may be the most crucial question in determining whether a fully electric car is a good choice for your lifestyle. If you’re generally only undertaking a short to medium commute or errands around town, you’re an ideal electric car user. Electric vehicles can take care of all of these tasks with power to spare before needing a charge. However, those who regularly have long drives or spend much of their workday in their car might find the range and battery charge insufficient. These folks may be better off with a gas-electric hybrid or a traditional vehicle.

2. Where Do You Live (and Work)?

Different towns, states, and regions all have different electric vehicle infrastructure – and this can make a huge difference in figuring out whether an electric car is right for you. In some areas, parking lots or garages may include reserved spots for electric vehicles with access to chargers. Some spots even have fast chargers that allow you to juice up during a quick trip to the supermarket or big box store. With access to extensive charging stations and reserved spots, you can dramatically expand the range of your vehicle through mid-day charges.

3. What’s Your Budget?

Unfortunately, the modern technology that powers electric vehicles isn’t cheap. Those purchasing an electric vehicle may find it thousands or even tens of thousands more expensive than comparable hybrid or gas models. Quite simply, this may put electric vehicles out of reach for some more budget-conscious buyers. Even those who can afford electric models should consider whether the extra cost is truly worth it, especially considering the loss in value many cars typically see.

4. What Are Your Values?

Electric cars help eliminate, vehicle-by-vehicle, one of the world’s biggest sources of planet-warming greenhouse gases – gasoline and diesel engines for transportation. Many hear the dire warnings about climate change and feel that they can do their part to slow the warming of the climate by switching to electric. For these folks, it may not matter that they have to shift their behavior to charge their vehicles mid-trip or pay more than they might have to otherwise. An electric car may be right for you if your values of protecting the climate and reducing pollution are worth more to you than financial or logistical concerns.

Electric Cars: Perfect Choice For Some, Poor Choice For Others

Whether an electric, hybrid, or traditional vehicle is in your future, the most important thing is to find the one that makes sense for you and your driving situation. While electric vehicles offer dramatic reductions in emissions and cut your transportation costs on an ongoing basis, they may not fit your lifestyle or your budget. Consider all this information carefully and you’ll be prepared the next time you head to the dealership.

How To Start Your Journey Towards Financial Independence: 5 Key Steps

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Tired of being in debt? Dreaming of the day when you achieve financial freedom for good? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a 2020 Experian study, the average American carries more than $92,000 of debt. The good news? There are steps you can start taking today to work towards long-term financial independence.

Know Where You Stand

It all begins with knowing how much debt you have accumulated. This might sound obvious, actually sitting down and calculating your total debt is an important first step. After all, most people have debt that is scattered across many different sources, ranging from credit cards to student loans and mortgages. By getting the “big picture” of how much debt you actually have, you’ll be able to create a better game plan to pay it off.

Check Your Credit Score

Now is also a good time to check your credit score. First, doing so will help you know where you stand when it comes to your credit, which can be affected by things like your debt-to-income ratio and whether you make your payments on time. If you have good credit, you may even qualify for a debt consolidation loan, which can help you pay down your debts sooner while potentially saving you on interest.

Checking your credit score can also alert you to potential errors on your report that can be disputed and resolved. 

Explore Debt Repayment Methods

Now that you have a better idea of how much debt you have, it’s time to explore some different strategies for paying it down. The two main strategies that people use are the debt avalanche and the debt snowball.

The debt avalanche focuses on paying off your highest interest debt first, allowing you to cut down on total interest paid out of your own pocket. With the debt snowball method, on the other hand, you pay off your smallest debt amounts first. With each account that is paid off, you free up more money to pay ahead on your other debts until everything is paid off.

Create (And Stick To) a Budget

After you’ve decided which debt repayment strategy makes most sense for you, it’s time to create a budget. This involves tracking how much money you have coming in versus how much you spend each month. When creating a budget, be sure to categorize your spending into essentials (such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and groceries) and non-essentials (dining out, entertainment, etc.).

From there, consider cutting back on non-essentials so you can free up more money to pay off your debt. Once you have a budget that works for your debt repayment strategy, stick with it. 

Consider New Income Sources

If you want to pay off your debt even faster, explore “side gigs” and other income sources. From driving for a ride share service to selling off clothing you no longer wear, there are plenty of potential sources of extra cash these days.

Get Started on the Path to Financial Freedom Today

With a little bit of planning and persistence, you can achieve financial freedom by paying off your debt sooner. Follow these practical tips and you’ll be well on your way!

5 Basic Outdoors Skills To Master

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Everyone should have some basic outdoor skills, even those who live in the city. You just never know when you might get stranded outside, especially if you are traveling through the mountains. A breakdown or even a sudden snowstorm can leave you stranded for hours or even days with no help, especially in areas where cell phones do not work. Learning a few basic outdoor skills could save your life when help can’t get to you.

Build a Fire

Fire is useful, even during hot summers. It can provide heat, allow you to cook and keep predators away from you. If you don’t carry matches or a lighter, or if your matches get wet, you need a way to start the fire with no supplies. Practice twirling a stick in a base of dry grass or other small tinder that’s easy to light. Iron pyrite, flint and quartz will all spark when it is hit with another rock that makes sparks.

Build a Shelter

If you know that help won’t arrive for hours or even a few days, you will need a shelter. You can’t rely on your vehicle for warmth as you will eventually run out of gas. If you have a tarp, you can easily make a shelter. If you are in an area with pine boughs, you can create a frame of sturdy branches and weave pine boughs in them. You can also lash long, sturdy branches together to make a teepee. If you are stuck in heavy snow, build a snow cave.

Find Water

Not many places have water that is safe to drink from a river or creek. If you build a fire and have a fireproof container, you can boil water to drink. You can also catch the rain. In a pinch, you can build a solar still.

Dig a hole about 2 feet by 2 feet and 1 foot deep. Put a container in the center of the hole. Cover the hole with a tarp. Hold the edges in place with rocks, dirt, or wooden stakes from tree branches. Seal the edges of the tarp with dirt. Put a small rock in the center, ensuring the dip lines up with your container. The moisture in the ground will condense and run down the underside of the tarp and drip into the container.

Tie Knots

Learning several knots can help you build a shelter, make a fishing line, or even set traps. You can even make tools if you can tie knots. The correct knot for an application could mean the difference between a secure shelter or losing a fish.

Finding Food

When traveling through remote areas, it’s always a good idea to carry food with you. However, it won’t last forever. You can fish if you have a string and a piece of wire to make a hook. You can even learn to tickle fish out of the water, though that is more of a summertime activity. Learn which foods that grow in the wild are good to eat, such as wild blackberries, wild onions, dandelion and other plants.

5 Reasons to Overcome Resentment and Emotional Pain

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When someone has done you wrong, holding a grudge seems natural. You deserve to feel this way and the other person deserves to be resented.

But as it turns out, when you hold onto resentment and emotional pain, you could be doing yourself a lot of harm. At the same time, that other person may not even care that you resent them. So if you need another reason to let it go, we have 5 for you.

1. It Harms Your Immune System

When you feel resentment, you spend more time in a fight or flight response and less in a relax and recover state. When your fight or flight response is activated, your body sends resources to your muscles, so you can run or fight for your life.

It takes it away from your immune system, digestive system, and higher-level brain activity. As your body sees it, you don’t need these things if you’re in mortal danger. 

You’re now more likely to get sick, get more severe symptoms, and take longer to recover. 

2. It Can Lead to Mental Health Problems

It’s perfectly normal to have some resentment when someone did something terrible to you. But holding onto it makes resentment a habit, an obsession, if not a full-blown addiction. 

Your go-to becomes feeling resentful. It becomes harder and harder to get out of that rut. And you begin to see the world through the eyes of a resentful person.

As the grudge progresses, real mental health problems often occur:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorders
  • Emotional detachment
  • Inability to love or be loved
  • Substance abuse to kill all this pain

3. It Can Cause Physical Health Challenges

It’s no wonder that, over time, this can lead to real physical health conditions. Health conditions that experts believe may be closely linked to holding on to the resentment include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Digestive issues
  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Skin disorders
  • Chronic headaches

4. It Can Shorten Your Life

This could be a direct result of the mental health and physical health challenges brought on by resentment. But people who don’t learn to let it go may live a shorter life — not to mention a less fulfilling one. 

No one’s saying you don’t have a right to your feelings. But you’re doing yourself real and lasting harm when you don’t learn strategies to overcome resentment and move on. 

Oh, and that person you resent. You’re probably not hurting them at all — unless you resent yourself.

5. It May Keep You from Better Things

Let’s say you feel resentful after a tragic breakup. Because of those feelings, you sit at home and don’t get back out there. Something better could be out there for you, but you’ll never know because you’re so focused on the past. 

But don’t beat yourself up. Doing so will keep you in this despair. What’s done is done. And the best thing you can do now is to start moving on to something better.  So consider these reasons, reach out for professional help if you need it, and get back to living your best life.

5 Things You Need to Know Before You Get a Cat

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Have you thought about getting a cat? It’s hard to blame you. They’re cute and fuzzy, and when they mew, it seems they’re just begging you to take them home and make them yours. However, there are a few things you should understand before you take the plunge and become a cat owner. Here are five.

1. A Cat Is a Long-Term Commitment

That little kitten you’re eyeing could live as long as 20 years, and it won’t always fit in your hand. Like people, cats grow and change. Like people, cats become attached to their friends and their surroundings. They’re uneasy about moving, and they don’t like changing owners. If you can’t see yourself feeding that cat and changing its litter box 15 or 20 years in the future, it may be best to pass.

2. Cats Can Be Costly

The initial cost of a cat is only a fraction of what you’ll spend over its lifetime. There’s food, litter, toys, bowls, scratching posts, cat carriers and medical care. Some have estimated the ongoing cost of a cat at $800-$1,000 per year. If your cat is injured or develops health issues, the expense can be even greater. Emergency treatment can run into the thousands.

In addition, cats, especially kittens, can be destructive. If you don’t give them something to scratch, they may take it out on your pillows or upholstery.

3. Cats Should Be Spayed or Neutered

Nobody knows how many feral cats there are, but estimates run from 50 million to 150 million just in America. “Fixing” your cat not only fights feline overpopulation; it’s good for a companion animal. Spaying a female cat helps prevent uterine infections and uterine and breast cancer. Neutering males drops the risk of prostate and testicular cancer. Spayed or neutered cats behave better. They’re less prone to yowling, aggressive behavior and marking territory.

4. Cats Are Best Kept Indoors

Indoor cats are healthier and live longer. They don’t get killed or maimed in fights or get hit by vehicles. Outdoor cats are notorious for killing songbirds and bringing home “presents” such as small rodents. With a comfortable environment, cats are just fine staying inside. However, they do appreciate a sunny perch where they can look out the window.

5. Cats Need Human Contact

Cats are domesticated animals. They don’t need as much attention as dogs, but they still need your love. Sometimes they seem standoffish and uninterested in their people, and they can spend a lot of time hiding under the bed or napping, but sooner or later they’ll need human companionship and human touch. In fact, studies suggest that cats will sometimes choose human attention in preference to food.

A cat in your life can bring countless hours of companionship, happiness and even joy. However, there are also costs and responsibilities. It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you bring Fluffy home with you.

Benjamin Franklin On How To Develop Your Moral Character

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Benjamin Franklin had a passion for self-improvement. The Founding Father, drafter of the Declaration of Independence, inventor, and scientist – perhaps best known for his experiment with a key on a kite string – decided to embark on what he called, in his autobiography, a “bold and arduous project” with a goal of nothing less than “moral perfection.”

That turned out not to be as easy as he had hoped. While he was guarding against one fault, another bad habit would pop up. He needed to come up with a plan to turn the virtues he desired into habits.

He made a list of 13 virtues he wanted to acquire. Then he came up with the key to his method. He realized that if he tried to focus on all of the 13 at once, he would just get distracted. So he created a plan where he would focus mostly on one virtue at a time.

He put them in an order where mastering one would make it easier to master the next. Every week he focused on a single virtue. With 13 virtues on his list, he spent a week on each of them four times a year.

His chosen virtues were:

  • Temperance (not eating or drinking too much)
  • Silence (saying only what will benefit himself or others)
  • Order (for objects and for time)
  • Resolution (to do what he should)
  • Frugality (don’t waste)
  • Industry (always be doing something useful, and don’t waste time)
  • Sincerity (act, think, and speak without deceit)
  • Justice (do his duty to avoid harm and provide benefits to others)
  • Moderation (avoid extremes and resentments)
  • Cleanliness (of body, clothing, and home)
  • Tranquility (don’t get upset about trivial or unavoidable things)
  • Chastity (don’t overdo sex, and use it mostly for health and offspring)
  • Humility (be like Jesus and Socrates)

To keep track of how well he was doing in his self-improvement project, he made graphs in a notebook. On each page, he drew lines to make seven columns, one for each day of the week. Then he made 13 rows, one for each virtue.

Every page had a single virtue that he was focusing on the most. For example, the first week, he would focus on temperance. He would leave the others to their natural course.

Every evening, he would think back on his faults of the day. He would place a mark in the box on his graph for the day and virtue for every one of the virtues that he had failed to uphold. His goal was to have a line clear of marks for the virtue he was focusing on for the week. If he could keep it up for a week, he would progress to the next virtue and try to keep both lines clear. After 13 weeks, he would start again.

Franklin’s self-improvement project still appeals to people today. If this resonates, consider choosing 13 virtues that have personal meaning to you. 

In the end, Franklin did not achieve the perfection of moral character that he had sought. But he said he was a better and happier person for having tried. And that’s the best outcome of all.

 

5 Tech Devices That Can Have A Positive Effect On Your Kids

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There is a constant debate about the health impacts of tech gadgets on kids and whether tech time needs to be limited in favor of other healthy activities. Well, some devices have a positive effect: reading, improving sleep, or encouraging more activity. 

Here are five that benefit kids instead of keeping their attention on video games all day.

Kindle Paperwhite Kids

Encouraging reading is always beneficial, and the kids’ Kindle is a great way to do so. It is easy for them to take multiple books anywhere and can be read outdoors. Ten weeks of battery life means they don’t have always to remember to charge it.

The best part of the Kindle is that if there is a new book they wish to read, Amazon Kindle Unlimited has quite a few titles. The library is an even better source as they can go online, check out any book they want, and send it straight to their Kindle. Plus, there are never library late fees.

$160 at Amazon keeps them reading

Apple Watch SE

A smartwatch can benefit kids, primarily if it keeps them active. The fitness tracking tells them if they have reached a healthy amount of steps during the day and reminds them to stand up and move. Kids love reaching their goals and being praised.

Enabling the GPS on the watch also means you can find your wandering child at a friend’s house, avoiding homework, and call or text their watch to get home. Using the Find My Apple app, you can locate them wherever they may be hiding.

$240 at Amazon gets them moving and makes them trackable

Osmo Creative Starter Kit

The Osmo is an iPad-compatible kit with award-winning games that helps kids learn. It helps with drawing, listening, physics, creative problem solving, and fine motor skills. Kids learn through experimentation and real-time audio and visual feedback. It is suitable for kids ages 5-10. Who knew an iPad could be used with such a great, interactive learning tool?

The kit is inexpensive at $55.99 on Amazon

Huohuotu Alilo Big Bunny

The Big Bunny is an award-winning early education toy that won the Family Choice Award and the British Infant Toy Award. This bunny can sing lullabies and children’s songs and tell stories, poems, and scientific knowledge. It comes with 1000+ pre-installed songs and stories. It is interactive and can answer math, history, science, and music questions.

Everything was considered, including ears that are safe for babies to chew on and the ability to go dormant after 30 minutes of lullabies.

$69.99 makes this miracle education toy a great value

GKTZ Kids Waterproof Camera

A 20 MP kids’ underwater sports camera? How cool. For the budding photographer in the family, a camera is an excellent way for kids to engage with the world around them. They can take videos and pictures both above and underwater. If it gets dropped, don’t worry. The camera has fall protection.

$31.99 on Amazon starts their photography fascination

These kids’ gadgets get reading, learning, and moving and keep them from endless cartoons or video games. You’ll be happy they are having fun while learning new skills and staying active. What great gifts for birthdays and Christmas.

So You Have Mice – Here’s What You Need To Know

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Mice cause property damage, spread serious disease, and cause anxiety for homeowners. All in all, having a mouse problem can make life miserable. Knowing the signs of a mouse infestation and some simple tips on what steps to take can help you take care of your house as well as members of your household. Here’s what you need to know.  

What Attracts Mice

Mice are attracted to food sources, water and shelter. They often choose to live in the walls of houses, in basements and in garages, where they can access food and water without being disturbed by people.

Mice like to live in places where they can access cloth, cardboard and paper to make nesting materials. They often eat any food they can reach, including any food kept in cardboard boxes or bags (such as cereal, bread and crackers). 

How to Get Rid of Mice 

Often, the easiest and most effective way to get rid of a mouse is to work with a reputable and experienced pest control company. Find a pest control company in your area that offers affordable services. Questions to ask a pest control company before signing up for services include:

  • How much does mouse infestation treatment cost?
  • Does the cost of treatment include return trips? If not, how much do return trips cost?
  • How long is treatment guaranteed to last? 
  • Do you have references?
  • Are your treatment methods safe for children and pets?

In addition to hiring a pest control company, it’s also important to take steps on your own to remove mice from your home. Knowing that mice are attracted to food and water sources as well as nesting materials, one of the ways you can drive mice out of your house is by making your house harder to access and less hospitable for pests.

  • Make the food sources inaccessible. Store foods in hard containers that mice can’t chew through. Plastic and glass containers work well for this. 
  • Keep mice away from water sources. Fix leaks (such as plumbing leaks and roof leaks) that could provide a water source for mice.
  • Seal your house. Sealing cracks and other points of entry into your house can prevent mice from re-entering your home once they’ve been expelled from your property. Use caulk and wire mesh to seal cracks and holes.   
  • Take out the trash and clean your kitchen nightly. Mice can take advantage of trash left in the trash bin or food left in the kitchen sink. Taking out the trash and cleaning your kitchen nightly can help keep mice out of the kitchen.

Prevention is Key

Mouse infestations are hard to get rid of once mice have moved in! You can avoid future problems by preventing mice from taking hold in your home. Make it a habit of yours to keep all food and water sources out of the reach of mice that may enter your home. Keep a good pest control company on speed dial, in case you happen to notice signs of a mouse. Following these tips, you can keep your house mouse-free!